'Real Housewives' hubby Matt Keough arrested for violating probation

By Christopher Rocchio and Steve Rogers, 12/24/2007

There's no crime in enjoying an alcoholic beverage -- unless of course it was a condition of your probation for felony DUI charges -- a lesson The Real Housewives of Orange County husband Matt Keough apparently learned last week.

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The 52-year-old former Major League Baseball pitcher and separated spouse of The Real Housewives star Jeana Keough was arrested last Tuesday for violating his probation after Newport Beach, CA police found him drinking at the bar of a local Marriott hotel, TheOrange County Registerreported Thursday.

Keough's probation stems from a 2005 incident in which he failed to stop at a red light and crashed his SUV into a stopped vehicle that then hit and injured a man who was walking his bicycle across the street intersection, according to TheRegister. Keough then fled the scene and was found at a nearby store. His blood alcohol level was reportedly "2.5 times the legal limit" when administered a breathalyzer test, leading to his arrest on felony DUI charges.

After spending a combined six months in two different posh rehab programs, Keough eventually pleaded guilty to drunk driving and spent three months in jail, according to TheRegister. As part of his release, his probation required him not to consume any alcohol. He was arrested on Tuesday after a Newport Beach police officer recognized The Real Housewives husband and was aware he's not supposed to be drinking.

"The officers recognized him. They know he's not supposed to have alcohol, and they arrested him," Newport Beach Police Lt. Steve Koudelka told TheRegister. "Even a sip of alcohol would be enough to violate his probation."

The new arrest came only a week after Keough had been released from the Newport Beach city jail on December 12, according to TheRegister. Keough had spent seven weeks at the jail due to an earlier parole violation in which a probation officer had caught him drinking at home.

"The Keough family... asks that the media please leave the family alone while they work to get Matt the help he needs to defeat this unfortunate disease," Keough friend Dan Grigsby told TheRegister.

Keough was originally scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on the new probation violation charges, however an Orange County judge postponed the arraignment until January 14 on Friday.

"Matt is committed to getting the treatment he needs and committed to getting well," Keough attorney Joseph McGinley told TheRegister.

Jeana Keough -- who publicly announced the couple had separated during The Real Housewives' still-airing third season -- attended the brief Friday court appearance but had little comment.

"There‚Äôs not much to comment on," she told TheRegister as she left the courtroom.

Keough made his Major League debut in 1977 and retired in 1986. After retiring as a player, he spent seven years working as a minor league scout for the Anaheim Angels. In 1992, he was sitting in the dugout during a Spring Training game when he was struck in the right side of the head by a foul line drive, causing him to undergo life-saving brain surgery.

Grigsby told TMZ.com the incident is the cause of his client's substance abuse problems.

"He's trying to quiet the demons as a result of the brain injury," said Grigsby.

Most recently, Keough worked as a special assistant to the general manager of the Oakland A's, the team he played with for the first six years of his MLB career. He left that position last year, according to TheRegister.

(Photo credit Bravo)

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